Isaiah 49:8

This is what the Lord says: “At the time I decide to show my favor, I will respond to you; in the day of deliverance I will help you; I will protect you ¹  and make you a covenant mediator for people, ²  to rebuild ³  the land ⁴  and to reassign the desolate property.

Ps 2:8; Ps 69:13; Ps 75:3; Isa 42:1; Isa 42:6; Isa 49:19; Isa 50:7-9; Isa 51:3; Isa 51:16; Isa 54:3; Isa 58:12; Isa 61:4; Mt 26:28; Joh 11:41,42; Ac 2:24-32; 2Co 6:2; Eph 1:6; Eph 2:12-19; Heb 5:7; Heb 8:6; Heb 12:24

¹ tn The translation assumes the verb is derived from the root נָצָר (natsar, “protect”). Some prefer to derive it from the root יָצָר (yatsar, “form”).

² tn Heb “a covenant of people.” A person cannot literally be a covenant; בְּרִית (bÿrit) is probably metonymic here, indicating a covenant mediator. Here עָם (’am, “people”) appears to refer to Israel. See the note at 42:6.

³ tn The Hiphil of קוּם (qum, “arise”) is probably used here in the sense of “rebuild.”

⁴ tn The “land” probably stands by metonymy for the ruins within it.